LITTLE AKALOA ENTERTAINMENT To the Editor.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 670, 15 December 1882, Page 2

LITTLE AKALOA ENTERTAINMENT To the Editor.

Sir, —I read in your issue of the Bth inst. a letter signed John Hunter, re entertainment, &c, in which ho takes the liberty to handle my name very freely. I would beg to aak your permission to allow me space in your columns to reply to that sipient. Now, air, before going into details of his (Mr Hunter's) letter, I would ask, How is it it has taken neuly three months to hatch, and why did the champion not hatch this before Mr Cox left the Bay ? But, sir, Mr Hunter's etyle is to attack a person well in the rear. Mr Hunter first endeavors to point out that the entertainment was got up for a different purpose than presenting Mr Cox with the proceeds, on his leaving our school, as a token of esteem, &c, as our schoolmaster. This entertainment was first mooted by Mrs Barker, and Mrs Backer and her family got it up for the purpose which appeared in the report. I certainly must apologise to Mr llmrer for not asking him wliat I should say, when I mounted the platform Lo pres-.-nt Mr Cox with the purse, as he (Mr Hunter) might have given mo these inspector's reporls to have read, instead of troubling yon to print them, for no other purpose than to damage Mr Cox's reputation, and deprive him of his bread and cheese. Why did he not publish them before, and give Mr Cox a chance to speak for himself, before leavtng the place? Does not this show local jealousy ? Mr Hunter says, "Mr Barker was content with the false impression he put on in the presentation to Vlr Cox, and attacks and censures the School Committee for Mr Cox ( leaving the Bay." This is one of Mr Hunter's false impressions, in order to mislead the public, because I never mentioned the School Committee ; but, however, the cap seems to fit. Mr Hunter then refers to a letter in your issue of the 21st ult., signed " Parent," which letter I did not write, or have anything to do with. At the same time I quite endorse what *' Parent" says. He (Mr Hunter) says, "they will show " Parent " that the Committee really is in existence, and fully awake, and capable of defending their actions, etc.. and they then defend their actions by publishing the inspector's bad reports of the school, with the view of preventing Mr Cox getting another school. Now, Sir, let us see if this Committee really is asleep or awake. Three months prior to the 31st- October Mr Cox sent in his resignation to the Committee, but it was not until the second week in October that the Committee thought about advertising for a new master. Would you call that being awake to their duties ? The school has been closed since October, and yet no signs of a master. Surely that is not like being awake, and capable of doing their duty. We have had no less than eleven teachers in Little Akaloa in a few years, and some of then: first-class men, and I am sorry to say I don't know of any who had not to leave through petty jealousy. Every one of them hns been the best man ever we had for about six months, but after that time look out, if you are seen visiting any of the parents' houses ; you will then 'md where local jealousy comes in.—Yours, etc., JOHN B'BARKER, Little Akaloa, Dec. 11, 1882,